In recent years, the rise of TikTok influencer and celebrity endorsements of weight loss drugs, including Saxenda, has boosted the sales for the injection drug.
However, Saxenda and similar weight loss drugs may do more harm than good. Medical literature and case studies have linked drugs in this class of medicines to gastroparesis, a serious condition that severely limits the stomach’s normal functions.
What is Saxenda?
Saxenda is a prescription drug that contains an active ingredient liraglutide, injected once a day. Manufactured by Novo Nordisk, Saxenda is part of the GLP-1 agonist drug class, and it is administered via injection.
GLP-1 is a type of hormone that helps manage blood sugar levels and regulates appetite. Saxenda is not approved to treat type 1 or type 2 diabetes, instead it is meant for weight loss management and obesity, or adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more.
Approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in 2014, Saxenda is also used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise to manage weight. The drug may be given to patients who are overweight and have diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.
Saxenda has been reported to achieve five to ten percent weight loss.
Weight Loss Drugs on the Market
TikTok influencers and celebrities have been promoting the use of drugs like Saxenda in recent years, leading to a boom in sales for Saxenda.
Novo Nordisk also manufactures Wegovy and Ozempic, which are popular diabetes and weight loss prescription drugs containing semaglutide as an active ingredient. Ozempic is only FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes, but Wegovy is officially approved to treat weight loss.
Saxenda & Gastroparesis (Stomach Paralysis)
Gastroparesis is a serious stomach condition in which food moves too slowly from the stomach to the small intestine. In more severe cases, food may stop moving through the intestine at all. Food that remains undigested in the body may stay in the stomach and harden.
Symptoms of gastroparesis include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Severe dehydration
- Acid reflux
- Malnutrition
- Weight loss
Stomach paralysis can lead to medical complications such as:
- Dehydration from excessive vomiting
- Malnutrition
- Difficulty controlling blood sugar level
- Low-calorie intake
- Bezoars (solid mass of food in the stomach preventing digestion)
- Blockage from bezoars
- Ulcers from bezoars
- Internal bleeding from bezoars
- Diminished quality of life
Gastroparesis Diagnosis & Treatment
Doctors can conduct a variety of tests to diagnose stomach paralysis in a patient suffering from the above-listed symptoms. Such tests include:
- Gastric emptying tests (tests how fast the stomach empties)
- Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (examination of stomach via a tiny camera on a tube)
- Ultrasound
After a gastroparesis diagnosis, doctors work with their patients on the best course of action to treat the condition. A few methods to alleviate symptoms are:
- Diet
- Medication to stimulate stomach muscles
- Medication to control vomiting and nausea
- Surgical procedure to place a feeding tube
- Electrical stimulation in the stomach to move food
Researchers are still investigating new methods and medications to treat stomach paralysis.
Saxenda Lawsuit
Patients taking Saxenda and similar weight loss drugs have come forward reporting serious gastrointestinal issues such as stomach paralysis.
A recent lawsuit filed in early August 2023 alleged that a 44-year-old patient taking Ozempic and Mounjaro suffered from gastroparesis and had to be hospitalized. The lawsuit is suing Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, another company manufacturing similar weight loss drugs, claiming that the drug manufacturers failed to warn about a potential risk of stomach paralysis.
According to the plaintiff, she became “severely injured” after taking Ozempic and Mounjaro.
Investigations and lawsuits against the manufacturers of Saxenda and similar weight loss drugs are still in the early stages as of September 2023.
Questions About a Saxenda Stomach Paralysis Lawsuit? Contact a Johnson//Becker Lawyer for a Free Case Review.
If you or a loved one took Saxenda and have been diagnosed with stomach paralysis, you may want to speak with the lawyers at Johnson//Becker. We are currently accepting new Saxenda lawsuits across the country, and you may be entitled to financial compensation.
We offer a Free Case Evaluation. Please contact us using the form below or by calling us at (800) 279-6386.
We would be honored to speak with you and respond promptly to every inquiry we receive.
Free Case Evaluation
To contact us for a free review of your potential case, please fill out the form below or call us toll free 24 hrs/day by dialing: (800) 279-6386.